Area-based positioning method in mobile communications system

ABSTRACT

A positioning method in a SUPL based position information (positioning) system, and particularly a positioning method capable of variously efficiently performing an area-based positioning (location tracking) performed by a location server or a mobile communications terminal when the location server and the mobile communications terminal respectively manage triggers generating the area-based positioning.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/501,886 filed Aug. 10, 2006, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/707,167 filed on Aug.11, 2005, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/707,168 filed on Aug. 11,2005, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/716,499 filed on Sep. 14,2005, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/716,517 filed on Sep. 14,2005, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/724,795 filed on Oct. 11,2005, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/741,054 filed on Dec. 1, 2005,U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/762,122 filed on Jan. 26, 2006,Korean Application No. 10-2006-0029135, filed on Mar. 30, 2006, U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/795,184 filed on Apr. 27, 2006, U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/810,631 filed on Jun. 5, 2006, KoreanApplication No. 10-2006-0071045, filed on Jul. 27, 2006. All theseapplications are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile communications system, andparticularly, to an area-based positioning method in a positioningsystem based upon Secure User Plane Location (SUPL).

2. Background of the Invention

In general, a mobile communications system has a function unit relatedto calculating of position of a mobile communications terminal (referredto as just a ‘terminal’ hereafter) in a mobile communications network,and thus provides location services for transferring the location of theterminal to a certain entity periodically or according to a user'srequest.

Networks related to the location services have different structuresaccording to an inner network structure of 3GPP or 3GPP2. The currentlocation of the terminal can be calculated using a cell-ID method fortransferring a cell ID to which the terminal belongs, a method in whicha time taken by transferring a radio wave from a terminal to each basestation is calculated and a location of the terminal is then calculatedusing a triangulation, a method using a Global Positioning System (GPS),and the like.

However, in order to provide location services to a user using theposition calculation (positioning) method, considerable signaling andposition information should be sent and received between the terminaland a location server. The so-called positioning technologies that havebeen standardized for providing such location services, namely, alocation service based upon the location (position) of a terminal, areundergoing rapid widespread dissemination. The technologies cantypically be provided through a user plane and a control plane. A SecureUser Plane Location (SUPL), which is well-known as an example of thepositioning technologies, provides the location services through theuser plane

The SUPL is an efficient method for transferring position informationrequired for the location calculation of a terminal. The SUPL protocoltransfers positioning assistance information such as Global PositioningSystem (GPS) assistance. The SUPL employs a user plane data bearer tocarry positioning technology associated protocols between the mobileterminal and a network.

In general, in a positioning system, a SUPL network related to alocation service roughly includes a SUPL agent, SUPL Location Platform(SLP) and SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET). The SUPL agent denotes a logicalservice access point using position information which is actuallymeasured. The SLP denotes a SUPL service access point within a networkportion where network resources are accessed to obtain positioninformation. The SET denotes a device for communicating with the SUPLnetwork using a SUPL interface. The SET may denote, for instance, one ofa User Equipment (UE) of UMTS, a Mobile Station (MS) of GSM, an IS-95MS, a laptop computer having an SET function, Personal DigitalAssistances (PDAs) or the like. The SET may also denote various mobileterminals which access through a Wideband LAN (WLAN).

The SET supports various procedures defined by the SUPL by beingconnected to the network through the user plane bearer. Here, a networkthat a user has originally registered is referred to as a home network.When a user moves and thus is located at another area which is not inthe home network area, the corresponding area is referred to as avisited network. The SLP within the home network is called as a Home-SLP(H-SLP), and the SLP within the visited network is called as aVisited-SLP (V-SLP). Here, upon initiating a SUPL procedure at thenetwork, an SLP to which an external client is initially connected isreferred to as a Requesting SLP (R-SLP). The R-SLP is a logical entitywhich may be either the same as the H-SLP or not. In addition, a SETwhich is a target for a current positioning (i.e., location tracking) isdefined as a target SET.

Furthermore, the SLP, as a network element, may include a SUPLPositioning Center (SPC) which is an entity for calculating an actuallocation, and a SUPL Location Center (SLC) which manages a function ofthe SLP other than calculating location (position) information, forexample, functions of roaming and resource management. Therefore, theSET may calculate the position information (i.e., perform positioning)through a communication with the SPC via the SLC (i.e., proxy mode), andmay calculate the position information (i.e., perform positioning) bybeing directly connected to the SPC (i.e., non-proxy mode).

The SUPL based immediate positioning method has been disclosed in therelated art, however, area-based (area-related or area event trigged)positioning methods based upon the SUPL has not been proposed therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide SUPL basedarea-related positioning (location tracking) methods which can variouslyefficiently be performed.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a positioning method in a mobile communications systemaccording to a first embodiment comprising: sending a session initiatingmessage including at least trigger type information to a targetterminal; receiving a session-start message from the terminal; sendingto the terminal a session response message including at least triggerparameter and a location identifier of a positioning-requested area;receiving a positioning initiating message from the terminal; performingpositioning between the terminal and the location server and sending theposition value calculated to the target terminal; and provisioning theposition value to an agent when the corresponding position value of thetarget terminal is sent from the target terminal.

Preferably, the trigger type information denotes an area event servicetype.

Preferably, the trigger parameter(s) is a part of parameter(s)pertaining to the area event triggers.

Preferably, the location identifier corresponds to one of cell id(s)belonging to the positioning-requested area, Mobile Country Code (MCC),Mobile Network Code (MNC), Location Area Code (LAC), a scrambling codenumber, or a primary scrambling code number.

Preferably, the positioning initiating message is sent when a triggercondition matches.

Preferably, if the trigger condition included in the trigger parameterindicates that the terminal is moved into a specified area or positionedin the specified area, the position initiating message is sent only whenat least one of the location identifiers received is identical with acurrent location identifier of the SET.

Preferably, if the trigger condition included in the trigger parameterindicates that the terminal is moved out of the specified area, thepositioning initiating message is sent only when any of the locationidentifiers received is not identical with the current locationidentifier of the SET.

Preferably, the position value is sent to the terminal only when theposition value calculated is identical with the position value of thespecified area included in the trigger parameter.

An area-based positioning method in a mobile communications systemaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention may comprise:receiving a session initiating message including first conditioninformation from a location server in a terminal; starting a sessionwith the location server according to the session initiating message;receiving a session response message including second conditioninformation from the location server; sending a positioning initiatingmessage to the location server; performing positioning (positioncalculation) between the location server and the terminal; comparing theposition value of the terminal calculated with the second conditioninformation to check whether the trigger condition is satisfied; andupon satisfying the trigger condition, sending the position valuecalculated to the location server.

Preferably, the first condition information denotes trigger typeinformation, and the trigger type information denotes an area eventservice type.

Preferably, the second condition information includes at least a triggerparameter and a location identifier.

Preferably, the trigger parameter(s) is a part of parameter(s)pertaining to the area event triggers.

Preferably, the location identifier denotes an identifier of thepositioning-requested area.

Preferably, the location identifier corresponds to one of cell id(s)belonging to the positioning-requested area, Mobile Country Code (MCC),Mobile Network Code (MNC), Location Area Code (LAC), a scrambling codenumber, or a primary scrambling code number.

Preferably, the positioning initiating message is sent when the triggercondition matches.

Preferably, if the trigger condition included in the trigger parameterindicates that the terminal is moved into a specified area or positionedin the specified area, the position initiating message is sent only whenat least one of the location identifiers received is identical with acurrent location identifier of the SET.

Preferably, if the trigger condition included in the trigger parameterindicates checking whether the terminal is moved out of the specifiedarea, the positioning initiating message is sent only when any of thelocation identifiers received is not identical with the current locationidentifier of the SET.

An area-based positioning method in a mobile communications system inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention maycomprise: receiving a session-start message including first and secondcondition information from a terminal; sending a session responsemessage from a location server to the terminal; receiving a positioninginitiating message sent from the terminal; and performing positioningbetween the terminal and the location server and then sending a positionvalue calculated to the terminal.

Preferably, the first condition information denotes trigger typeinformation, and the second condition information denotes a triggerparameter.

Preferably, the trigger type information denotes an area event servicetype.

Preferably, the trigger parameter(s) is a part of parameter(s)pertaining to the area event triggers.

Preferably, the session response message includes at least a locationidentifier of the positioning-requested area.

Preferably, the location identifier corresponds to one of cell id(s)belonging to the positioning-requested area, Mobile Country Code (MCC),Mobile Network Code (MNC), Location Area Code (LAC), a scrambling codenumber, or a primary scrambling code number.

Preferably, the positioning initiating message is sent when the triggercondition is satisfied.

An area-based positioning method in a mobile communications system inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention maycomprise: sending a session start message including at least first andsecond condition information to a location server; receiving a sessionresponse message from the location server; sending a positioninginitiating message to the location server; performing positioningbetween the terminal and the location server; comparing a position valueof the terminal calculated with at least the second conditioninformation to check whether the trigger condition matches; andreporting the position value calculated to an inner agent when thetrigger information is satisfied.

Preferably, the first condition information denotes a trigger typeinformation, and the second condition information denotes a triggerparameter.

Preferably, the trigger type information denotes an area event servicetype.

Preferably, the trigger parameter(s) is a part of parameter(s)pertaining to the area event triggers.

Preferably, the location identifier corresponds to one of cell id(s)belonging to the positioning-requested area, Mobile Country Code (MCC),Mobile Network Code (MNC), Location Area Code (LAC), a scrambling codenumber, or a primary scrambling code number.

Preferably, the positioning initiating message is sent when a triggercondition matches.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates Network-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates Network-trigged case and SET-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates an area-based positioning period is relatively long ascompared to that in the second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 4^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 5^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates an area-based positioning period is relatively long ascompared to that in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 6^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 7^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates a procedure for sending area trigger information to a mobilecommunications terminal using a new message;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with an 8^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and SET-initiated case for a Non-RoamingProxy mode;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 9^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates an area-based positioning period is relatively long ascompared to that in the 8^(th) embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 10^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 11^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 12^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and SET-initiated case for a Non-RoamingProxy mode;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 13^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and SET-initiated case for a Non-RoamingProxy mode;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 14^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 14^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode;

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 16^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and SET-initiated case for a Non-RoamingProxy mode;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates a SET-trigged case and a Network-initiated case for aSET-assisted mode; and

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates a SET-trigged case and a SET-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Description will now be given in detail of the embodiments of thepresent invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention can be implemented in a SUPL network. However, thepresent invention may be employed to radio (wireless) communicationsystems which are operated based upon different specifications.Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will beexplained.

The present invention provides a procedure for an area-based(area-related) positioning (location tracking) (e.g., when a terminal ismoved into a specified area, positioned within the specified area, ormoved out of the specified area) in case that a server and a terminalmanage trigger information related to positioning in a SUPL basedpositioning (location/position information) system.

The area-based positioning according to the present invention can beillustrated such that when a corresponding event occurs periodically oraccording to pre-stored trigger information, an SLP or SET starts thepositioning procedure to determine whether the SET is currentlypositioned in a corresponding area defined in the trigger information,namely, area event information, and accordingly, if it is determinedthat the SET is currently positioned in the corresponding area, thecorresponding event is reported. Here, the area event denotes that it isverified that a terminal is moved into or out of a specified area, orpositioned in the area, and thereby the corresponding event occurs.Also, the area corresponds to “specified area” presented in the presentinvention, which denotes information for defining the area event.

In general, location services provided in a SUPL based positioningsystem may classified into a service by a network (i.e.,Network-initiated case) and a service by a SET (i.e., SET-initiatedcase). The location services may be classified into a proxy mode thatthe SET performs a positioning procedure by directly exchanging messageswith a H-SLP of a home network, and a non-proxy mode that the SETperforms the positioning procedure by exchanging messages with a SUPLLocation Center (SLP) and a SUPL Positioning Center (SPC) within theH-SLP.

In the present invention, a periodic positioning is divided into aNetwork-trigged case or a SET-trigged case according to a subjectmanaging trigger information. The divided cases will be re-classifiedinto a service by a network (i.e., Network-initiated case and a serviceby the SET (i.e., SET-initiated case) to thusly be explained.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates Network-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode. Here, the SLP corresponds to a network side,while a target SET (referred to as SET hereafter) corresponds to aterminal side.

When an outer LCS client requests an area-based positioning, a SUPLagent requests the area-based positioning from the SLP using a MobileLocation Protocol (MLP) Trigged Location Reporting Request (TLRR)message (S10).

The MLP TLRR message may contain parameters such as ms-id, client-id,QoP, tlrr_event, and the like. ms-id denotes a target (SET) of whichposition is tracked, QoP denotes a positioning accuracy (e.g., a timedelay and a spatial accuracy), and tlrr_event denotes area eventinformation which is, namely, related to characteristics of thearea-based positioning (e.g., whether the positioning target (e.g., aterminal) is moved into or out of a specified area, positioned in thespecified area, or the like) and a specified area (e.g., a name of thespecified area, an exact position value, or the like).

The MLP TLRR message may further include parameters related to types ofthe positioning values (which represent a current value or a valueobtained in the latest time when it is difficult to calculate or obtainthe current value), and parameters for setting priorities with respectto each positioning request for several positioning requests.

The SLP having received the MLP TLRR message verifies using a lookuptable whether the target SET supports the SUPL, and verifies usingrouting information whether the target SET is currently SUPL roaming(S11).

If it is verified that the SET supports the SUPL and is currently notroaming, the SLP sends a SUPL initializing SUPL INIT message to the SETso as to start (initiate) the SUPL procedure with the SET (S12). Here,the SUPL INIT message may be sent in forms of a Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP) push, a Short Message Service (SMS) trigger, a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP) push, UDP/IP, or the like, for example.

The SUPL INIT message may include at least session-id, SLP mode, SUPLmode, a positioning method (posmethod) to be used, and the like. Here,the SLP mode denotes an operation mode of the SLP (i.e., a Proxy mode ora Non-Proxy mode), the SUPL mode denotes types of positioning (e.g., animmediate positioning, a periodic positioning, area-based positioning,etc.). Also, the SLP confirms (verifies) a privacy of the SET prior toperforming the step S11. If the user requires a notification related tolocation (position) information, the SLP further includes a notificationparameter in the MLP TLRR message.

Hence, the SLP sends the SUPL INIT message by including area-basedtrigger information therein. This parameter may be used to inform thetarget SET of information related to the area-based positioning and ofthe corresponding positioning being executed by the SLP (i.e.,Network-trigged case).

The SET having received the SUPL INIT message requests a data connectionfrom a packet data network (i.e., 3GPP or 3GPP2) when any dataconnection is currently not set between the SET itself and a certainnetwork (S13). Once setting the data connection, the SET stores thetrigger information sent by the SUPL INIT message, and then sends a SUPLSTART message to the SLP (S14). Here, the SET sends SET capabilityinformation by including it in the SUPL START message.

The SLP sends acknowledgement (i.e., whether the positioning can beperformed) with respect to the corresponding positioning request to theSUPL agent by using a MLP Trigged Location Reporting Answer (TLRA)message exchanged (S15). Thereafter, the SLP sends a SUPL RESPONSEmessage to the SET in response to the SUPL START message (S16). Here,the SUPL RESPONSE message may be replaced with a SUPL TRIGGER message.In this case, the step S16 is not performed.

Afterwards, in order to check using the stored trigger informationwhether the corresponding event has occurred, namely, in order toperiodically check whether the position of the terminal corresponds tothe position related to the event occurs, the SLP sends the SUPL TRIGGERmessage to the SET to thusly inform the SET of the positioning start(S17). The SET sends the SUPL positioning initializing SUPL POS INITmessage to start an actual positioning related procedure (S18). Here,the SUPL POS INIT message may include at least Location Identifiers(lid) indicating a session ID, a base station ID, or the like, versions,SET capabilities, and the like.

The SLP and the SET consecutively exchange (send and receive) messagesto execute an actual positioning, and then the SLP or SET calculates aposition of the SET by virtue of the consecutive messages (S19).Preferably, the messages exchanged between the SLP and the SET mayinclude a session ID, protocols (e.g., RRLP, RRC or TIA-801) to be usedfor the positioning, etc. Also, the SET does not accurately calculatethe actual position value together with the SLP. Rather, the SET mayreport only the lid through a SUPL REPORT message.

The positioning (i.e., the position calculation) for the SET may beperformed by the SLP based upon positioning measurements received fromthe SET (i.e., SET-assisted mode), or be performed by the SET based uponassistance obtained from the SLP (i.e., SET-based mode). The portionrepresented with a solid line in FIG. 1 illustrates the positioning bythe SET-assisted mode. However, if the positioning is performed in theSET-based mode, the SET sends the calculated position value (i.e.,posresult) to the SLP using the SUPL REPORT message (S20) (shown withdotted lines).

Upon completely performing the positioning (the position calculation),the SLP determines (verifies) whether the calculated position of the SETis identical with the pre-stored area event information. If it isdetermined that the position value of the SET is identical with thepre-stored area event information, the SLP sends the correspondingpositioning value to the SUPL agent using a MLP TLREP message (S21). Ifnot identical, the SLP periodically performs the positioning proceduresas follows.

That is, in the succeeding area-based positioning period, the SLP sendsthe SUPL TRIGGER message to the SET to inform the positioning start(S22). The SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP to start anactual positioning procedure (S23). Afterwards, the SLP and the SETconsecutively exchange messages for performing the actual positioningwith each other to thusly calculate the position of the SET (S24). Here,if the positioning (position calculation) is performed in the SET-basedmode, the SLP receives the calculated position value from the SET by useof the SUPL REPORT message (S25). Also, the SET does not accuratelycalculate the actual position value together with the SLP. Rather, theSET may report only the location identifier (lid) through a SUPL REPORTmessage.

Accordingly, when completely checking up the position of the SET by theSUPL TRIGGER message, the SUPL POS INIT message, the SUPL POS procedure,and the SUPL REPORT message, the SLP determines again whether theposition of the SET is identical with the pre-stored area eventinformation. If it is determined the position value of the SET isidentical with the pre-stored area event information (i.e., if thecorresponding event occurs), the SLP sends the area-based positioningvalue to the SUPL agent through the MLP TLREP message (S26). The SLPthen sends the SUPL END message to the SET to inform the termination ofthe SUPL procedure (or SUPL session) (S27). The SET having received theSUPL END message releases an IP connection with the SLP and releases allof the resources related to the positioning session.

On the other hand, the SUPL START and SUPL RESPONSE messages in FIG. 1may be omitted. In this case, the MLP TLRA message can be sent aftersending the SUPL POS INIT message.

For a long period for the area-based positioning, the location servermay send a SUPL END message to the terminal at the end of every periodto thusly end (terminate) the positioning for one period.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates Network-trigged case and SET-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode.

First, when a SUPL agent requests an area-based positioning, the SETrequests a data connection from a packet data network (e.g., 3GPP or3GPP2) when any data connection is not set between the SET itself and acertain network (S30).

Once setting the data connection, the SET sends a SUPL START message tothe SLP to start a procedure for an area-based positioning (i.e., casesof moving into a specified area or out of the specified area) (S31).Here, the SET inserts (includes) a report_criteria parameter indicatingarea event information in the SUPL START message. Accordingly, the SETcan send to the SLP characteristics of the area-based positioning (e.g.,whether a positioning target (e.g., a terminal) is moved into or out ofa specified area, positioned in the specified area, or the like) andinformation related to the specified area (e.g., a name of the specifiedarea, an exact position value, or the like).

The SLP having received the SUPL START message stores the area eventinformation, and verifies using routing information whether the SET iscurrently SUPL roaming (S32). If it is verified that the SET iscurrently not roaming, the SLP sends a SUPL RESPONSE message to the SETin response to the SUPL START message (S33).

Afterwards, in order to check using the stored trigger informationwhether the corresponding event has occurred, namely, in order toperiodically check whether the position of the terminal corresponds tothe position related to the event occurs, the SLP sends the SUPL TRIGGERmessage to the SET to thusly informs the SET of the positioning start(S34). The SET sends the SUPL positioning initializing (SUPL POS INIT)message to start (initiate) an actual positioning related procedure(S35). Here, if the positioning is initially generated, the SUPL TRIGGERmessage may be replaced with the SUPL RESPONSE message.

The SLP and the SET exchange consecutive messages for performing anactual positioning. The SLP or the SET may calculate the position of theSET by use of the consecutive messages (S36). Here, the SLP does notaccurately calculate the actual position value together with the SET.Rather, the SLP may report only the lid through a SUPL REPORT message.

The positioning (i.e., position calculation) for the SET may beperformed by the SLP using positioning measurements received from theSET (i.e., SET-assisted mode), or be performed by the SET usingassistance obtained from the SLP (i.e., SET-based mode). The portionrepresented with a solid line in FIG. 1 illustrates the positioning bythe SET-based mode. However, if the positioning is performed by theSET-assisted mode, the SLP sends the calculated position value to theSET using the SUPL REPORT message (S37) (shown with dotted lines). Uponcompletely performing the positioning, the SLP checks whether thecalculated position for the SET is identical with the area eventinformation stored to thereby determine whether the corresponding eventhas occurred.

In the succeeding positioning period, the SLP and the SET, asaforementioned, exchange the SUPL TRIGGER message, the SUPL POS INITmessage, the SUPL POS procedure, and the SUPL REPORT message tore-perform the positioning (S38˜S41). Here, instead of accuratelycalculating the actual position value between the SLP and the SET, theSLP may report only the lid using the SUPL REPORT message.

When completely performing the series of area-based positioningprocedures, the SLP sends the SUPL END message to the SET to inform theSET of the termination of the SUPL procedure (or SUPL session) (S42).The SET then releases the IP connection with the SLP and also releasesall of the resources related to the positioning session.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates an area-based positioning period is relatively long ascompared to that in the second embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, for a long period for the area-basedpositioning, the SLP terminates positioning for one period at the end ofevery period using the SUPL END message (i.e., only the SUPL connectionis released with maintaining the SUPL session) (S58). The SLP thenperforms positioning for the succeeding period reusing the SUPL TRIGGERmessage at the starting point of the succeeding period (S59). Here, thesteps (S50˜S57) are the same as the steps (S30˜(S37) except theirreference numerals, detailed explanation will not be repeatedaccordingly.

That is, when completely performing the area-based positioning procedurefor one period (S57), the SLP sends the SUPL END message to the SET tothusly release the SUPL POS connection with respect to the one period(S58). Thereafter, the SLP sends the SUPL TRIGGER message to the SET soas to inform the SET of the positioning performance for the succeedingperiod (S59). Here, the SET requests a data connection from a packetdata network (e.g., 3GPP or 3GPP2) when any data connection is not setbetween the SET itself and a certain network.

Accordingly, when the corresponding event occurs, the SLP and the SETexchange with each other the SUPL POS INIT message, the SUPL POSprocedure, and the SUPL REPORT message to perform positioning for thecorresponding period (S60˜S62). When completely performing the series ofarea-based positioning procedures, the SLP sends the SUPL END message tothe SET to thus inform the SET of the termination of the SUPL procedure(S63).

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 4^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for a Non-RoamProxy mode, and particularly a case that the positioning is performed bythe SET-based mode.

When an outer LCS client requests an area-based positioning, the SUPLagent requests the area-based positioning from the SLP using a MobileLocation Protocol (MLP) Trigged Location Reporting Request (TLRR)message (S70). The MLP TLRR message may contain parameters such asms-id, client-id, QoP, tlrr_event, and the like. ms-id denotes a targetobject (SET) to be tracked, QoP denotes a positioning accuracy, andtlrr_event denotes area event information, namely, characteristics ofthe area-based positioning and a specified area. Also, the MLP TLRRmessage may further include parameters related to types of thepositioning values, and parameters for setting priorities with respectto each positioning request for several positioning requests.

The SLP having received the MLP TLRR message verifies using a lookuptable whether the SET supports the SUPL, and verifies using routinginformation whether the SET is currently SUPL roaming (S71). If it isverified that the SET supports the SUPL and is currently not roaming,the SLP sends a SUPL INIT message to the SET so as to start the SUPLprocedure with the SET (S72). Here, the SUPL INIT message may be sent informs of a WAP push, a Short Message Service (SMS) trigger, a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP) push, UDP/IP or the like, for example.

The SUPL INIT message may at least include parameters such assession-id, SLP mode, SUPL mode, posmethods, and the like. Here, the SLPmode denotes an operation mode of the SLP (e.g., Proxy mode or Non-Proxymode), the SUPL mode denotes types of the positioning (e.g., immediatepositioning, periodic positioning, and area-based positioning). The SLPcan check privacy of the SET prior to performing the step S71. If a userrequires a notification related to the positioning, a notificationparameter may further be included in the SUPL INIT message.

The SLP includes a report_criteria parameter in the SUPL INIT message tosend the SUPL INIT message. The SLP uses the report_criteria parameterto send trigger information related to the area-based positioning whichhas been received from the outer LCS client, namely, the area eventinformation, to the SET. That is, the SLP forwards the triggerinformation generating the area-based positioning to the SET (i.e.,SET-trigged case). The SET is accordingly allowed to perform an actualpositioning when the corresponding event occurs.

The specified area (e.g., Seoul, or Shingil 1-dong) which has been sentfrom the SUPL agent using the MLP TLRR message is not actuallyrepresented as a cell id on a network. Accordingly, the SLP converts thespecified area into a network parameter such as the cell id, or thelike, if needed. The SLP then sends the converted network parameterusing the SUPL INIT message. Alternatively, the SLP uses the SUPL INITmessage to send the specified area name sent by the MLP TLRR message asit is. The converted into the network parameter which can be recognizedby the SET may be sent through a separately provisioning protocol.

The SET having received the SUPL INIT message sets a data connectionwith a packet data network (e.g., 3GPP or 3GPP2) if any data connectionis not set between the SET itself and a certain network (S73). Uponsetting the data network, the SET stores the trigger information (i.e.,area event information) sent by the SUPL INIT message and then sends aSUPL START message to the SLP (S74). Here, the SET also sends SETcapability information by including it in the SUPL START message.

The SLP sends acknowledgement (i.e., whether the positioning can beperformed) with respect to the corresponding positioning request to theSUPL agent by using a MLP TLRA message (S75). The SLP then sends a SUPLRESPONSE message to the SET in response to the SUPL START message (S76).

Afterwards, when requiring information (i.e., assistance data)periodically needed to calculate a position value by the SLP, forexample, when requiring information transferred by the SLP so as to fastprocess data which should be measured for an actual positioningperformed by the SET, the data, in case of using A-GPS, including acurrent orbit of a satellite, the number of satellites to which asatellite signal receivable by the terminal at its current positionbelongs, or the like, the SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLPto thusly start the positioning procedure (S77). Here, when a TCP/IPconnection between the SET and the SLP has been released after sendingthe SUPL RESPONSE message, the SET must reset the data connection priorto sending the SUPL POS INIT message.

Therefore, the SLP and the SET consecutively exchange messages forperforming the actual positioning (i.e., perform the SUPL POSprocedure). Accordingly, the positioning (i.e., position calculation)for the SET may be performed by the SLP based upon positioningmeasurements received from the SET (i.e., SET-assisted mode), or beperformed by the SET based upon assistance obtained from the SLP (i.e.,SET-based mode).

FIG. 4 illustrates that the positioning is performed by the SET-basedmode. Accordingly, when terminating the SUPL POS procedure, the SETcompares the calculated position value with an actual position value setin the area event information thus to check whether the area event hasoccurred. If it is checked that the area event has occurred, the SETsends the calculated position value to the SLP using the SUPL REPORTmessage (S79). The SLP sends the positioning value received from the SETto the SUPL agent using a MLP TLREP message (S80). Here, the SETincludes, in a trigger_event parameter of the SUPL REPORT message,information which indicates characteristics of the corresponding event(e.g., cases that the SET moves into a specified area or out of thearea, or positioned within the specified area), to thereby send it tothe SLP.

If it is checked that the area event has not occurred, on the otherhand, the SET periodically performs the positioning procedures asfollows. In this case, the steps S79 and S80 may not be performed.

That is, in the succeeding area-based positioning period, the SET sendsthe SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP to inform the SLP of thepositioning start (S81). The SET consecutively exchanges messages withthe SLP to thusly perform the positioning, thereby performing the SUPLPOS procedure (S82).

Upon terminating the SUPL POS procedure, the SET compares the calculatedposition value with an actual position value set in the area eventinformation. According to the comparison, if the calculated positionvalue is identical with the actual position value (i.e. the area eventhas occurred), the SET sends the corresponding positioning value and thetype of the event occurs to the SLP using the SUPL REPORT message (S83).

Accordingly, the SLP sends the positioning value received from the SETto the SUPL agent using the MLP TLREP message (S84). The SLP sends aSUPL END message to the SET thus to inform the SET of the end(termination) of the SUPL procedure (or SUPL session) (S85).

In FIG. 4, on the other hand, the SUPL START and SUPL RESPONSE messagesmay be omitted. In this case, the MLP TLRA message may be sent aftersending the SUPL POS INIT message.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 5^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates an area-based positioning period is relatively long ascompared to that in the fourth embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the area-based positioning procedure isperformed by a long period, the SLP terminates the positioning for oneperiod at the end of every period using the SUPL END message (i.e., theSUPL connection other than the SUPL session is released) (S100). The SLPthen performs the positioning for the succeeding period reusing the SUPLSTART at the starting point of the succeeding period (S102). Here, thesteps (S90˜S99) are the same as the steps (S70˜S79) except theirreference numerals, detailed explanation will not be repeatedaccordingly.

That is, when terminating the area-based positioning procedure for oneperiod to thereby occur an area event, the SLP sends the SUPL ENDmessage to the SET to thusly release the SUPL POS connection withrespect to the one period (S100). Thereafter, the SLP sends thecorresponding area-based positioning value to the SUPL agent using theMLP TLREP message (S101). If the area event has not occurred, the steps(S99 and S101) may not be performed.

Afterwards, in the succeeding area-based positioning period, the SETopens (connects) the released SUPL POS connection using the SUPL STARTmessage, and informs the SLP of the positioning for the succeedingperiod to be performed (S102). The SUPL START and SUPL RESPONSE messagesmay be omitted in FIG. 5. In this case, the MLP TLRA message may be sentafter sending the SUPL POS INIT message. In the step S102, the SUPLSTART message may be replaced with the SUPL POS INIT message.

Accordingly, in the succeeding area-based positioning period, the SLPand the SET consecutively exchange with each other the SUPL POS INITmessage, the SUPL POS procedure, and the SUPL REPORT AND MLP TLREPmessages to perform the positioning, so as to send the correspondingposition value to the SUPL agent (S104˜S107). When the series ofarea-based positioning procedures are terminated, the SLP sends the SUPLEND message to the SET so as to inform the SET of the end (termination)of the SUPL procedure (S108).

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 6^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode, and particularly a case that the positioning isperformed by the SET-assisted mode.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the operations performed by the steps(S110˜S118) are the same as those performed by the steps (S70˜S78) ofFIG. 4, detailed explanation will be omitted accordingly.

Hence, upon ending (terminating) the SUPL POS procedure (S118), the SLPsends the calculated position value to the SET using the SUPL REPORTmessage (S119). The SET compares the calculated position value with anactual position value set in the area event information thus to checkwhether the area event has occurred. If it is checked that the areaevent has occurred, the SET includes the calculated position value and atrigger_event parameter indicating a characteristic of the correspondingevent in the SUPL TRIGGER message. The SET thereafter sends the SUPLTRIGGER message to the SLP (S120). The SLP then sends the positioningvalue received from the SET to the SUPL agent using the MLP TLREPmessage (S121).

If it is checked that the area event has not occurred, on the otherhand, the SET periodically performs the positioning procedure asfollows. In this case, the steps S120 and S121 may not be performed.

That is, in the succeeding area-based positioning period, the SETre-sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP to thusly inform the SLPof the positioning start (S122). The SET then exchanges consecutivemessages for performing an actual positioning with the SLP andaccordingly performs the SUPL POS procedure (S123).

When ending (terminating) the SUPL POS procedure, the SLP sends thecalculated position value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message(S124). The SET then compares the calculated position value with anactual position value set in the area event information to thereby checkwhether the area event has occurred. If it is checked that the areaevent has occurred, the SET includes the calculated position value and atrigger_event parameter indicating characteristics of the correspondingevent in the SUPL TRIGGER message and sends the SUPL TRIGGER message tothe SLP (S125).

Hence, the SLP sends the positioning value received from the SET to theSUPL agent using the MLP TLREP message (S126). The SLP then sends theSUPL END message to the SET so as to inform the SET of the terminationof the SUPL procedure (or SUPL session) (S127).

The SUPL START and SUPL RESPONSE messages, on the other hand, may beomitted in FIG. 6. In this case, the MLP TLRA message may be sent aftersending the SUPL POS INIT message.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 7^(th) embodiment of the present invention. Theseventh embodiment illustrates an example that the SLP sends areport_criteria using a new SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message when the SLPcan not send the report_criteria using the SUPL INIT message due to alimitation on the size of the SUPL INIT message.

That is, the seventh embodiment of the present invention is differentfrom the 4^(th) embodiment in view of the addition of SUPL TRIGGERREQUEST and SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message. Other steps are the same asthe steps in the 4^(th) embodiment except their reference numerals.

Therefore, upon performing the steps (S130˜5134) aforementioned, the SLPsends trigger information (i.e., area event information) for thearea-based positioning to the SET using the SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message(S135), so as to make the SET arrange the area-based positioningaccording to the corresponding information and to allow the SET toseparately perform a user confirmation. The SET stores the area eventinformation sent by the SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message and thereaftersends a SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message in response to the SUPL TRIGGERREQUEST message (136).

However, unlike in FIG. 4, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the SLP receivesthe SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message from the SET and then sends the MLPTLRA message to the SUPL agent (S137). Since the SLP sends to the SETthe SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message which includes the trigger informationrelated to the area-based positioning, and then receives from the SETthe SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message in response to the SUPL TRIGGERREQUEST message, only the reception of the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE messagecan inform that the trigger information related to the area-basedpositioning has completely sent to the SET. However, the SUPL TRIGGERRESPONSE message can be omitted. In this case, the SLP sends the SUPLTRIGGER REQUEST message and then immediately sends the MLP TLRA messageto the SUPL agent.

The SUPL INIT message can be sent in a SMS sending manner. Accordingly,when the report_criteria parameter can not be all included in the SMS,the SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message may denote a message for separatelysending the report_criteria parameter, and the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSEmessage corresponds to a message in response to the SUPL TRIGGER REQUESTmessage. Therefore, both the SUPL START message and the SUPL RESPONSEmessage could be omitted in FIG. 4. In FIG. 7, however, for sending thetrigger information related to the are-based positioning by the SUPLTRIGGER REQUEST message and receiving the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE, the SETmust first send the SUPL START message to the SLP to obtain anacceptance from the SLP with respect to the periodic positioningincluded in the SUPL INIT. Accordingly, only the SUPL RESPONSE messagemay be omitted.

Even in the seventh embodiment of the present invention, for the longperiod for the are-based positioning, a procedure can be changed so asto be able to open (connect) the SUPL session by the SET per everyperiod. In this case, the SUPL START message and the SUPL RESPONSEmessage are added for every positioning period prior to sending the SUPLPOS INIT message. If the SUPL REPORT message is not used (required,sent), the SUPL END message is added following every SUPL POS procedure.If the SUPL REPORT message is used, the SUPL END message is addedfollowing the SUPL REPORT message.

FIGS. 5 and 7 illustrate that the positioning (i.e., positioncalculation) is performed only by the Set-based mode. If the positioningis performed by the SET-assisted mode, as shown in FIG. 6, the SLP sendsthe calculated position value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message,and the SET checks whether the corresponding event has occurred. Whenthe corresponding event has occurred, the SET informs the SLP using theSUPL TRIGGER message that the corresponding event has occurred.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with an 8^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and SET-initiated case for a Non-RoamingProxy mode.

First, when the SUPL agent requests the area-based positioning, the SETrequests a data connection from a packet data network (e.g., 3GPP or3GPP2) if any data connection is not set between the SET itself and acertain network (S150).

Once setting the data connection, the SET sends the SUPL START messageto the SLP to start the area-based positioning procedure (S151). Here,the SET inserts (includes) a tlrr_event parameter in the SUPL STARTmessage to set characteristics of the area-based positioning, specifiedarea related information, and the like, and then sends the SUPL STARTmessage to the SLP.

For example, the specified area related information may be a name of anarea in an administrative district or a name of a well-known area, suchas “Seoul”, “Shingil 1-dong”. The specified area related information isrepresented by information with latitude/longitude or coordinates x, yand z, and the like. Accordingly, the SET must send the specified arearelated information and/or the specific position information thus toreceive from the SLP the network parameter (e.g., cell id) by which theSET can recognize its movement to the corresponding area. This is whyonly the SLP knows the cell ids configuring the area associated with thearea-based positioning.

The SLP having received the SUPL START message verifies using routinginformation whether the SET is currently SUPL roaming (S152). If the SETis currently not roaming, the SLP sends the SUPL RESPONSE message to theSET in response to the SUPL START message (S153).

The SLP sends the SUPL RESPONSE message by including the report_criteriaparameter therein. The SLP includes trigger information related to anarea-based positioning request received from the SET, and then sends itto the SET. That is, the SLP forwards the trigger information generatingthe area-based positioning to the SET, so as to allow the SET to performthe actual area-based positioning procedure when the corresponding eventoccurs (i.e., SET-triggered). For example, for a positioning related toa specified area, the specified area-related information (e.g., Seoul orShingil 1-dong) received from the SET is not indicated by use of a cellid, or the like on an actual network. Accordingly, the SLP converts thecorresponding area into a network parameter such as the cell id or thelike to thereafter send it to the SET. Also, the value converted intothe network parameter which can be recognized by the SET may be sentusing a separate provisioning protocol as well as the SUPL RESPONSE.

In the area-based positioning period, the SET sends the SUPL POS INITmessage to the SLP to start the area-based positioning procedure (S154).Here, when a TCP/IP connection between the SLP and the SET is releasedafter sending the SUPL RESPONSE message, the SET must reset the dataconnection prior to sending the SUPL POS INIT message.

The SET consecutively exchanges messages for performing an actualpositioning with the SLP thus to perform the SUPL POS procedure, therebycalculating the position of the SET (S155). Here, the positioning (i.e.,position calculation) for the SET may be performed by the SLP based uponpositioning measurements received from the SET (i.e., SET-assistedmode), or be performed by the SET based upon assistance obtained fromthe SLP (i.e., SET-based mode). FIG. 8 illustrates the positioningperformed by the SET-based mode. However, if the positioning isperformed by the SET-assisted mode, the SLP sends the calculatedposition value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message (S156).

Accordingly, the SET determines whether the calculated position value isidentical with the area event information (e.g., cell id) provisionedfrom the SLP to thereby check whether the area event has occurred. If itis checked that the area event has occurred, the SET provisions thecalculated position value to the SUPL agent.

Afterwards, in the succeeding positioning period, the SLP and the SET,as aforementioned, perform the positioning for the corresponding periodusing the SUPL POS INIT message, the SUPL POS procedure, and the SUPLREPORT message so as to calculate the position value of the SET(S157˜S159): Upon completely performed the series of area-basedpositioning procedures, the SLP sends the SUPL END message to the SET toinform the SET of the termination (end) of the SUPL procedure (S160).The SET then releases an IP connection with the SLP and also releasesall of the resources related to the positioning session.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 9^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates an area-based positioning period is relatively long ascompared to that in the 8^(th) embodiment.

That is, if the area-based positioning is performed by a long period,the location server sends the SUPL END message to the terminal at theend of every period, and terminates the positioning for one period(S176). Here, when the positioning for one period is terminated and thepositioning for the next period is started, the SET informs the SLP ofthe start of the area-based positioning for the second period using theSUPL START message (S177). Here, the SUPL START message sent from thesecond period may include a period value (e.g., the number of times)decreased as much as the previous period value.

Accordingly, the 9^(th) embodiment of the present invention is differentfrom the 8^(th) embodiment in view of the step in which the SET sendsthe SUPL START message to the SLP for every positioning period afterperforming the step S177 to thereby start the area-based positioningprocedure. Other steps except the step in the 9^(th) embodiment are thesame as the steps in the 8^(th) embodiment except their differentreference numerals therefrom, detailed explanation of which will not berepeated accordingly.

As aforementioned, in order to check whether the area event hasoccurred, it is necessary to calculate a current position of the SET.However, if the SET is located far away from an area defined in thetrigger information (area event information), a periodic positioningsession between the SET and the SLP is not so important. In this case,the area event can be processed through the coarse positioning for theSET until the SET approaches a target area.

Accordingly, if the coarse positioning is performed using the cell-id,an area-based positioning service can basically be configured with threestages as follows.

1) A plurality of cell-ids of a specified area are sent to the SET.2) The plurality of cell-ids sent are compared with a cell-id in which atarget SET is currently positioned.3) If one of the cell-ids is identical with the cell-id in which thetarget SET is currently positioned, the SET periodically starts apositioning session. Here, FIGS. 10 through 13 will now be explainedbased upon these points of view.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 10^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode. The 10^(th) embodiment of the present inventionillustrates such that the positioning (i.e., position calculation) forthe SET is approximately performed using the cell-id, and thereafter aperiodic area-based positioning is performed only when the calculatedposition of the SET corresponds to a position defined in area eventinformation. Here, the SLP corresponds to a home network side, and theSET corresponds to a terminal side.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, when an outer LCS client requests anarea-based positioning, the SUPL agent requests the area-basedpositioning from the SLP using a MLP TLRR message (S190). The MLP TLRRmessage includes parameters such as ms-id, client-id, QoP, tlrr_event,and the like. Here, ms-id denotes a target to be position-tracked, QoPdenotes a positioning accuracy, and tlrr_event denotes area eventinformation, namely, characteristics of an area-based positioning and aspecified area.

The SLP having received the MLP TLRR message verifies using a lookuptable whether the SET supports the SUPL, and then verifies whether theSET is currently SUPL roaming (S191). If it is verified that the SETsupports the SUPL and is currently not roaming, the SLP sends a SUPLINIT message to the SET to start the SUPL procedure with the SET (S192).Here, the SUPL INIT message may be sent in forms of WAP Push, SMStrigger, SIP Push, UDP/IP, or the like.

The SUPL INIT message may at least includes parameters such assession-id, SLP mode, SUPL mode, posmethod, and the like. Here, the SLPmode denotes an operation mode of the SLP (i.e., a Proxy mode or aNon-Proxy mode), the SUPL mode denotes types of positioning (e.g., animmediate positioning, a periodic positioning, area-based positioning,etc. Also, the SLP sends the SUPL INIT message by including areport_criteria parameter therein. The SLP uses the report_criteriaparameter to send trigger information related to the area-basedpositioning which has been received from the outer LCS client, namely,the area event information, to the SET. That is, the SLP forwards thetrigger information generating the area-based positioning to the SET.The SET is accordingly allowed to perform an actual positioning when thecorresponding event occurs.

The SET having received the SUPL INIT message sets a data connectionwith a packet data network (e.g., 3GPP or 3GPP2) when any dataconnection is not set between the SET itself and a certain network(S193).

Upon setting the data connection, the SET stores the area eventinformation sent by the SUPL INIT message, and sends a SUPL TRIGGERSTART message which includes session-id, lid and SET capabilityinformation to the SLP (S194).

The SLP having received the SUPL TRIGGER START message sendsacknowledgement for the positioning request to the SUPL agent throughthe MLP TLRA message (S195). The SLP then determines which cells belongto the specified area requested by the SUPL agent. The SLP stores thecell id corresponding to the determined cells and also sends the cellids to the SET using a SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message (S196).

The SET having received the plurality of cell ids through the SUPLTRIGGER RESPONSE message compares the plurality of cell-ids with a cellid in which the SET is currently positioned to check whether there is acell id which is identical with the cell id of the SET (S197). Thecomparison is executed to check whether the SET has approached to thetarget area by an approximate positioning (i.e., position calculation)for the SET.

According to the comparison, if one of the plurality of cell ids isidentical with the cell id of the current SET, the SET recognizes thatit has approached the target area, and starts a periodic area-basedpositioning. That is, the SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLPat the area-based positioning period to start the area-based positioningprocedure (S198).

Accordingly, the SET and the SLP consecutively exchange messages witheach other for performing an actual positioning thus to perform the SUPLPOS procedure, thereby calculating the position of the SET (S199). Here,the positioning (i.e., position calculation) for the SET may beperformed by the SLP based upon positioning measurements received fromthe SET (i.e., SET-assisted mode), or be performed by the SET based uponassistance obtained from the SLP (SET-based mode). FIG. 10 illustratesthe positioning performed by the SET-based mode. However, if thepositioning is performed by the SET-assisted mode, the SLP sends thecalculated position value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message(S200).

Upon obtaining the position value of the SET, the SET compares theobtained position value with an actual position value set in the areaevent information and checks whether the area event has occurred. If itis checked the area event has not occurred, the steps S201 and S202 arere-performed to calculate a new position value. Here, if the positioningis performed by the SET assisted mode, the SLP sends the calculatedposition value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message (S203).

Afterwards, the SET re-compares again the newly calculated positionvalue with the actual position value set in the area event information.If the two position values are identical with each other to thusly occurthe area event (S204), the SET sends the newly calculated position value(i.e., positioning value) to the SLP using the SUPL REPORT message(S205). Accordingly, the SLP sends the SUPL END message to the SET toterminate the SUPL session (S206). The SLP then sends the positioningvalue received from the SET to the SUPL agent using the MLP TLREPmessage (S207).

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with an 11^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode. The 11^(th) embodiment of the present inventionillustrates such that the SLP calculates initial period information forthe area-based positioning to send the calculated initial periodinformation to the SET, and the SET performs the positioning accordingto the initial period information to thereafter change the initialperiod information according to the position of the SET.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, operations performed by the steps S210through S213 are the same as the operations performed by the steps S190through S193 in FIG. 10, detailed explanation of which will not berepeated accordingly.

Once setting the data connection (S213), the SET stores the area eventinformation sent by the SUPL INIT message, and sends the SUPL TRIGGERSTART message including session-id, lid and SET capability informationto the SLP (S214).

The SLP having received the SUPL TRIGGER START message sendsacknowledgement for the position request to the SUPL agent by use of theMLP TLRA message (S215). The SLP then calculates a relative distancebetween the specified area requested by the SUPL agent and a currentposition of the SET (i.e., a position approximately estimated by usingthe lid). The SLP accordingly calculates an initial period of thearea-based positioning based upon the relative distance calculated. Thecalculated initial period is sent to the SET through the SUPL RESPONSEmessage (S216). The lid denotes a location (position) identifier.

The SET having received the initial period of the area-based positioningthrough the SUPL RESPONSE message starts a period positioning session(S217). The SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP at thecorresponding initial period to start the area-based positioningprocedure (S218).

Accordingly, the SET and the SLP consecutively exchange messages forperforming an actual positioning to perform the SUPL POS procedure,thereby calculating the position of the SET (S219). Here, thepositioning (i.e., position calculation) for the SET may be performed bythe SLP based upon positioning measurements received from the SET(SET-assisted mode), or be performed by the SET based upon assistanceobtained from the SLP (SET-based mode). FIG. 10 illustrates thepositioning performed by the SET-based mode. However, if the positioningis performed by the SET-assisted mode, the SLP sends the calculatedposition value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message (S220).

Upon completely calculating the position value of the SET, the SETcompares the calculated position value with an actual position value setin the area event information so as to check whether the area event hasoccurred. If it is checked that the area event has not occurred, the SETre-calculates the relative distance between the calculated positionvalue and the requested area, to thereby change the period of thearea-based positioning (S221).

Afterwards, the SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP at theperiod for the newly calculated area-based positioning to start thearea-based positioning procedure. Here, the changed positioning periodis sent to the SLP (S222). Therefore, the SET and the SLP consecutivelyexchange messages for performing an actual positioning to perform theSUPL POS procedure, thereby calculating the position of the SET (S223).Here, if the positioning is performed by the SET-assisted mode, the SLPsends the calculated position value to the SET using the SUPL REPORTmessage (S224).

Afterwards, the SET re-compares the newly calculated position value withthe actual position value set in the area event information. If the twoposition values are identical with each other and thus the area eventoccurs (S225), the SET sends the new position value to the SLP using theSUPL REPORT message (S226). The SLP then sends the SUPL END message tothe SET to terminate the SUPL session (S227). Thereafter, the SLP sendsthe positioning value received from the SET to the SUPL agent using theMLP TLREP message (S228).

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 12^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and SET-initiated case for a Non-RoamingProxy mode. The 12^(th) embodiment of the present invention illustratessuch that an approximate positioning for the SET is performed using thecell-id as same as in the 10^(th) embodiment, and thereafter performsthe periodic area-based positioning only when the calculated position ofthe SET corresponds to the position defined in the area eventinformation.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, when the SUPL agent requests an area-basedpositioning, the SET sets a data connection with a packet data networkif any data connection is not set between the SET itself and a certainnetwork (S230).

Once setting the data connection, the SET sends a SUPL TRIGGER STARTmessage to the SLP to start the area-based positioning procedure (S231).Here, the SET includes a tlrr_event parameter in the SUPL TRIGGER STARTmessage to set a type of the area-based positioning and specified arearelated information. The SET then sends the message to the SLP.

The SLP having received the SUPL TRIGGER START message determines whichcells belong to the specified area. Thereafter, the SLP stores cell idscorresponding to the corresponding cells and also sends the cell ids tothe SET using the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message (S232). The SET havingreceived the plurality of cell ids by the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE messagecompares a cell id in which the SET is currently positioned with thecell ids received, to thereby check whether there is a cell id identicalwith the cell id of the SET (S233). The comparison is executed to checkwhether the SET has approached the target area through an approximatepositioning of the SET.

If one of the plurality of cell ids is identical with the current cellid, the SET recognizes that it has approached the target area, and thenstarts a periodic area-based positioning. That is, the SET sends theSUPL POS INIT message to the SLP at the area-based positioning period tostart the area-based positioning procedure (S234).

Accordingly, the SET and the SLP consecutively exchange messages forperforming an actual positioning so as to perform the SUPL POSprocedure, thereby calculating the position of the SET (S235). Here, thepositioning (i.e., position calculation) for the SET may be performed bythe SLP based upon positioning measurements received from the SET (i.e.,SET-assisted mode), or be performed by the SET based upon assistanceobtained from the SLP (i.e., SET-based mode). FIG. 12 illustrates thepositioning performed by the SET-based mode. However, if the positioningis performed by the SET-assisted mode, the SLP sends the calculatedposition value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message (S236).

Upon obtaining the position value of the SET, the SET compares theobtained position value with an actual position value set in the areaevent information to thus check whether the area event has occurred. Ifit is checked that the area event has not occurred, the steps S237 andS238 are re-performed to calculate a new position value. Here, if thepositioning is performed by the SET-assisted mode, the SLP sends thecalculated position value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message(S239).

Afterwards, the SET re-compares the newly calculated position value withthe actual position value set in the area event information. If the twovalues are identical with each other and thus the area event occurs(S240), the SET sends the new position value to the SLP using the SUPLREPORT message (S241). The SLP sends the SUPL END message to the SET toend (terminate) the SUPL session (S242).

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 13^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and SET-initiated case for a Non-RoamingProxy mode. The 13^(th) embodiment of the present invention illustrates,as in the 11^(th) embodiment, such that the SLP calculates an initialperiod information for an area-based positioning to send it to the SET,and the SET performs the positioning according to the initial periodinformation to change the initial period information according to theposition of the SET.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, when the SUPL agent requests an area-basedpositioning, the SET sets a data connection with a packet data networkif any data connection is not set between the SET itself and a certainnetwork (S250). Upon setting the data connection, the SET sends a SUPLTRIGGER START message to the SLP to start the area-based positioningprocedure (S251). Here, the SET includes a tlrr_event parameter in theSUPL TRIGGER START message to set characteristics of the area-basedpositioning and specified area related information. The SET then sendsthe message to the SLP.

The SLP having received the SUPL TRIGGER STAT message calculates arelative distance between the area requested by the SUPL agent and acurrent position of the SET (i.e., a position approximately estimatedusing lid). The SLP calculates an initial period of the area-basedpositioning based upon the calculated relative distance. The calculatedperiod is sent to the SET using the SUPL RESPONSE message (S252).

The SET having received the initial period of the area-based positioningusing the SUPL RESPNSE message starts the period positioning session(S253). The SET then sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP at theinitial period of the corresponding positioning to start the area-basedpositioning procedure (S254).

Accordingly, the SET and the SLP consecutively exchange messages forperforming an actual positioning so as to perform the SUPL POSprocedure, thereby calculating the position of the SET (S255). Here, thepositioning of the SET may be performed by the SLP based uponpositioning measurements received from the SET (i.e., SET-assistedmode), or be performed by the SET based upon assistance obtained fromthe SLP (i.e., SET-based mode). FIG. 10 illustrates the positioningperformed by the SET-based mode. However, if the positioning isperformed by the SET-assisted mode, the SLP sends the calculatedposition value to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message (S256).

Upon completely calculating the position value of the SET, the SETcompares the calculated position value with the actual position valueset in the area event information to check whether the area event hasoccurred. If it is checked the area event has not occurred, the SETre-calculates the relative distance between the calculated positionvalue with the requested area, thereby changing the period for thearea-based positioning (S257).

Afterwards, the SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP at thenewly calculated period for the area-based positioning to start thearea-based positioning procedure. Here, the changed positioning periodis sent to the SLP (S258). Accordingly, the SET and the SLPconsecutively exchange messages for performing the actual positioning soas to perform the SUPL POS procedure, thereby calculating the positionof the SET (S259). Here, if the positioning is performed by theSET-assisted mode, the SLP sends the calculated position value to theSET using the SUPL REPORT message (S260).

Then, the SET re-compares the newly calculated position value with theactual position value set in the area event information. If the twovalues are identical with each other and thus the area event occurs(S261), the SET sends the new position value to the SLP using the SUPLREPORT message (S262). The SLP sends the SUPL END message to the SET toterminate the SUPL session (S263).

As aforementioned, the 1^(st) through 13^(th) embodiments of the presentinvention have explained the case that the area-based positioning isperformed in association with the period. However, the area-basedpositioning is not always performed in association with the period. Thatis, it is possible that the area-based positioning is performed onlywhen the position value of the SET is identical with the actual positionvalue set in the area event information (i.e., only when thecorresponding event occurs based upon pre-stored trigger information).FIGS. 14 through 16 illustrate various types of area-based positioningwhich are performed regardless of a specified period.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 14^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode.

When an outer LCS client requests an area-based positioning, a SUPLagent requests an area-based positioning from the SLP using a MLP TLRRmessage (S270). The MLP TLRR message may include parameters such asms-id, client-id, QoP, tlrr_event, and the like.

The SLP having received the MLP TLRR message verifies using a lookuptable whether the SET supports the SUPL, and verifies using routinginformation whether the SET is currently SUPL roaming (S271). If it isverified the SET supports the SUPL and is currently not roaming, the SLPsends the SUPL INIT message to the SET to start the SUPL procedure withthe SET (S272). Here, the SUPL INIT message may be sent in forms of WAPPush, SMS trigger, SIP Push, UDP/IP, and the like.

The SUPL INIT message may at least include parameters such assession-id, posmethod, report_criteria, SLP mode, SUPL mode, and thelike. Here, the SLP mode denotes an operation mode of the SLP. The SUPLmode denotes positioning types. The SLP can verify a privacy of the SETprior to performing the step S271. If the user requires a notificationrelated to location (position) information, the SLP further includes anotification parameter in the MLP TLRR message.

Also, the SLP includes a report_criteria parameter in the SUPL INITmessage to send the SUPL INIT message. The SLP uses the report_criteriaparameter to send trigger information related to the area-basedpositioning which has been received from the outer LCS client, namely,the area event information, to the SET. That is, the SLP forwards thetrigger information generating the area-based positioning to the SET(i.e., SET-trigged case). The SET is then allowed to perform an actualpositioning when the corresponding event occurs.

For example, for the area-based positioning, the SLP includes parametersidentifying characteristics of the area-based positioning and aspecified area in a certain message to thereby send the message. Here,the name of the specified area such as “Seoul” or “Shingil 1-dong”, forexample, denotes parameters used for querying the user whether to acceptthe positioning when the SET user moves to the corresponding area, theparameters being associated with a privacy checkup.

However, for the area-based positioning, the specified area relatedinformation (e.g., Seoul or Shingil 1-dong) which has been sent from theSUPL agent using the MLP TLRR message does actually not presented as acell id on the network. Accordingly, the SLP converts the specified arearelated information into a network parameter such as the cell id tothusly send it. Also, the SLP sends the name of the specified area as itis using the SUPL INIT message, the name of the specified area havingbeen sent using the MLP TLRR message. The SLP can also send through aseparate provisioning protocol the value converted into the networkparameter (i.e., cell id) which the SET can recognize.

The SET having received the SUPL INIT message sets a data connectionwith a packet data network when any data connection is not set betweenthe SET itself and a certain network (S273). Upon setting the datanetwork, the SET stores trigger information received through the SUPLINIT message and thereafter sends the SUPL START message to the SLP(S274).

The SLP sends acknowledgement (i.e., whether the positioning can beperformed) with respect to the corresponding positioning request to theSUPL agent by using a MLP TLRA message (S275). The SLP then sends SUPLRESPONSE message to the SET in response to the SUPL START message(S276). Here, when sending the name of the specified area (i.e., a namerecognized by the user) sent through the MLP TLRR message as it is byusing the SUPL INIT message, the SLP sends the value converted into thenetwork parameter (e.g., cell id or shape information) which the SET canrecognize to the SET using the SUPL RESPONSE message.

Afterwards, the SET verifies whether the cell id in which the SET itselfis positioned is identical with the cell id included in the triggerinformation and thereby checks whether the area event has occurred. Ifit is checked the cell id in which the SET is positioned is identicalwith the cell id included in the trigger information and thus the areaevent has occurred (i.e., if the SET is moved into an area defined inthe area event information), the SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message tothe SLP to start the positioning procedure (S277). Here, if a TCP/IPconnection between the SLP and the SET has been disconnected aftersending the SUPL RESPONSE message, the SET must reset the dataconnection prior to sending the SUPL POS INIT message.

The SLP and the SET consecutively exchange messages for performing anactual positioning. The SLP and the SET then calculate the position ofthe SET through the consecutive messages (S278). The positioning (i.e.,position calculation) for the SET may be performed by the SLP based uponpositioning measurements received from the SET (i.e., SET-assistedmode), or be performed by the SET based upon assistance obtained fromthe SLP (i.e., SET-based mode). If the positioning is performed by theSET-based mode, the SET sends the calculated position value to the SLPusing the SUPL REPORT message (S279).

Accordingly, the SLP sends the position value calculated by the SLPitself or received from the SET to the SUPL agent using the MLP TLREPmessage (S280).

The SUPL START and SUPL RESPONSE messages in FIG. 14 may be omitted. Inthis case, the MLP TLRA may be sent after sending the SUPL POS INITmessage. However, when sending the name of the specified area sent bythe SLP as it is, as the specified area related information within theSUPL INIT message, and sending the value converted into the networkparameter (namely, cell id or shape information) that the SET canrecognize by including the value in the SUPL RESPONSE message, the SUPLRESPONSE message can not be omitted.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 15^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and Network-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode. The 15^(th) embodiment illustrates that the SLPsends a report_criteria using a new SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message whenthe SLP can not send the report_criteria using the SUPL INIT message dueto a limitation on the size of the SUPL INIT message. Hence, the 15^(th)embodiment is mostly similar to the 14^(th) embodiment, except addingSUPL TRIGGER REQUEST and SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE messages.

First, upon performing the steps (S290˜S294) for starting the area-basedpositioning, the SLP sends information regarding the area-basedpositioning to the SET using a SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message (S295), soas to make the SET arrange the area-based positioning according to thecorresponding information and to allow the SET to separately perform auser confirmation. The SET stores the trigger information sent by theSUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message and thereafter sends a SUPL TRIGGERRESPONSE message in response to the SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message (S296).

However, unlike in the 14^(th) embodiment, the SLP in the 15^(th)embodiment receives the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message from the SET andthereafter sends the MLP TLRA message to the SUPL agent (S297). Thisstep S297 is performed such that since the SLP sends the SUPL TRIGGERREQUEST message to the SET by including the trigger information relatedto the area-based positioning therein and receives the SUPL TRIGGERRESPONSE message from the SET in response to the SUPL TRIGGER REQUESTmessage, it can be identified that the trigger information related tothe area-based positioning has been completely sent to the SET onlyafter receiving the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message in the SLP. However,the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message can be omitted. In this case, the SLPsends the SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message and immediately sends the MLPTLRA message to the SUPL agent.

The SUPL INIT message can be sent in a SMS sending manner. Accordingly,when the report_criteria parameter can not be all included in the SMS,the SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message may denote a message for separatelysending the report_criteria parameter, and the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSEmessage corresponds to a message in response to the SUPL TRIGGER REQUESTmessage.

If it is necessary to separately send the value obtained by convertingthe name of the specified area into the network parameter (e.g., cell idor shape information) that the SET can identify, the corresponding valuemay be sent by being included in the SUPL TRIGGER REQUEST message. Also,the name of the specified area sent through the MLP TLRR message may besent as it is, as the specified area related information within the SUPLTRIGGER REQUEST message. The value (e.g., cell id or shape information)converted into the network parameter that the SET can identify may alsobe sent by being included in the SUPL RESPONSE message.

Therefore, the SUPL START message and the SUPL RESPONSE message can beomitted in FIG. 14. However, in FIG. 15, when sending the triggerinformation related to the area-based positioning by using the SUPLTRIGGER REQUEST message and receiving the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE messagethereafter, the SET first sends the SUPL START message to the SLP toobtain an acceptance of the SLP with respect to the area-basedpositioning which is included in the SUPL INIT message. Accordingly,only the SUPL RESPONSE message can be omitted. However, the SUPLRESPONSE message can not be omitted, in case of sending the specifiedarea related information (i.e., the name of the specified area sentthrough the MLP TLRR message) as it is using the SUPL TRIGGER REQUESTmessage, and sending the value (e.g., cell id or shape information)obtained by converting the name of the specified area into the networkparameter through the SUPL RESPONSE message.

The succeeding steps (S298˜S302) are the same as the steps (S276˜S284),detailed explanation of which will not be repeated accordingly.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a 16^(th) embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates SET-trigged case and SET-initiated case for a Non-RoamingProxy mode.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, when the SUPL agent requests an area-basedpositioning, the SET requests a data connection from a packet datanetwork if any data connection is not set between the SET itself and acertain network (S310).

Upon setting the data connection, the SET sends a SUPL START message tothe SLP to request the area-based positioning (S311). Here, the SETincludes (inserts) a tlrr_event parameter in the SUPL START message toset a parameter for identifying characteristics of the area-basedpositioning, a specified area, and the like, thereby sending the messageto the SLP. In particular, for the area-based positioning, the SET sendsto the SLP the tlrr_event parameter by representing the specified areatherein so as to receive from the SLP the network parameter that the SETitself can actually not identify. For example, the specified arearelated information (e.g., Seoul or Shingil 1-dong) which a terminalactually sends may possibly be a name of an area in an administrativedistrict or a name of a well-known area. The corresponding name may notbe represented as the cell id on an actual network.

Hence, the SET must send the specified area related information to theSLP such that the SLP converts the specified area related informationinto the network parameter such as the cell id which the SET canrecognize that the SET itself has moved to the corresponding area tothusly send the converted network parameter to the SET. Also, in orderto receive the cell id of the corresponding area by which it can beidentified that the terminal has been moved to the correspondingspecified area during its movement, even if the SET exactly knowsinformation regarding the latitude/longitude of the specified area tothereby send the corresponding area related information with thelatitude/longitude or coordinates x, y and z, the SET must send theexact position (area) information to the SLP and then receive the cellid of the corresponding area from the SLP. This is because only the SLPhas known cell ids constructing the areas related to the area-basedpositioning.

The SLP having received the SUPL START message verifies using routinginformation whether the SET is SUPL roaming (S312). If the SET is notroaming, the SLP sends the SUPL RESPONSE message to the SET in responseto the SUPL START message (S313).

The SLP sends the SUPL RESPONSE message by including a report_criteriaparameter therein. The parameter is sent to the SET by including areaevent information related to the area-based positioning request receivedfrom the SET therein. That is, the SLP forwards the trigger informationgenerating the area-based positioning to the SET, so as to allow theperformance of the actual positioning procedure in the SET when thecorresponding event occurs. Particularly, for the area-basedpositioning, the specified area related information (e.g., Seoul orShingil 1-dong) sent from the SUPL agent using the MLP TLRR message isactually not represented as the cell id on the network. Accordingly, theSLP converts the specified area into a network parameter such as thecell id to thereafter send the cell id to the SET. The SLP also uses theSUPL INIT message to send the name of the specified area sent throughthe MLP TLRR message as it is. The value converted into the networkparameter (e.g., cell id) that the SET can recognize may be sent througha separately provisioning protocol.

Afterwards, when a specific event occurs based upon the stored triggerinformation (i.e., when the SET is moved into the corresponding area),the SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP to start thearea-based positioning procedure (S314). Here, the SET can inform theSLP using an event_trigger parameter which event has occurred. Here, ifa TCP/IP connection between the SLP and the SET has been released aftersending the SUPL RESPONSE message, the SET must reset the dataconnection prior to sending the SUPL POS INIT message.

Therefore, the SET consecutively exchanges messages for performing theactual positioning with the SLP to calculate the position of the SET(S315). Here, the positioning (i.e., position calculation) for the SETmay be performed by the SLP based upon the positioning measurementsreceived from the SET (i.e., SET-assisted mode), or be performed by theSET based upon assistance obtained from the SLP. FIG. 16 illustrates thepositioning is performed by the SET-based mode. However, if thepositioning is performed by the SET-assisted mode, the SLP sends theposition value calculated to the SET using the SUPL REPORT message(S316).

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates a SET-trigged case and a Network-initiated case for aSET-assisted mode.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, when an outer LCS client requests anarea-based positioning, the SUPL agent sends an MLP TLRR message to theSLP (S320).

The MLP TLRR message may include parameters such as ms-id, client-id,QoP, tlrr_event, etc. ms-id denotes a target SET, QoP denotes apositioning accuracy (e.g., a time delay and a spatial accuracy), andtlrr_event denotes a positioning related trigger parameter whichdenotes, for example, various condition information regarding thepositioning such as characteristics of the area-based positioning (e.g.,whether the target SET (e.g., a terminal) is moved into or out of aspecified area, positioned in the specified area, or the like) and aspecified area (e.g., a name of the specified area, an exact positionvalue, or the like).

The MLP TLRR message may further include parameters related to types ofthe positioning values (which represent a current value or a valueobtained in the latest time), and parameters for setting priorities withrespect to each positioning request for several positioning requests.

The SLP having received the MLP TLRR message verifies using a lookuptable whether the target SET supports the SUPL, and verifies usingrouting information whether the target SET is currently SUPL roaming(S321).

If it is verified that the SET supports the SUPL and is currently notroaming, the SLP sends a SUPL initializing (SUPL INIT) message to theSET so as to start the SUPL procedure with the SET (S322). Here, theSUPL INIT message may be sent in forms of a Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP) push, a Short Message Service (SMS) trigger, a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP) push, UDP/IP, or the like, for example.

The SUPL INIT message may include at least session-id, trigger typeindicator (e.g., area event), SLP mode (i.e., a Proxy mode or aNon-Proxy mode), positioning method (posmethod) to be used, and thelike. Also, the SLP confirms a privacy of the SET prior to performingthe step S321. If the user requires a notification related to location(position) information, the SLP further includes a notificationparameter in the SUPL INIT message.

Hence, the SLP sends the SUPL INIT message by including a trigger typeparameter therein. This parameter may be used to inform the SET that thearea-based positioning has been requested and the correspondingpositioning is to be executed by the SLP (i.e., Network-trigged case).

The SET having received the SUPL INIT message recognizes that the SLPuses the proxy mode, and sets a secure IP connection with the SLP. TheSET sets a data connection with a packet data network (i.e., 3GPP or3GPP2) when any data connection is currently not set between the SETitself and a certain network (S323). Once setting the data connection,the SET sends a SUPL TRIGGER START message to the SLP to start anarea-event triggered session (S324). Here, the SUPL TRIGGER STARTmessage may include at least session-id, lid and SET capabilityinformation.

Upon receiving the SUPL TRIGGER START message, the SLP selects apositioning method to be used in the area event triggered session, andsends a SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSE message including session-id, posmethodand a trigger parameter (trigger_params) to the SET (S325). The triggerparameter indicates an area event triggered parameter related to thepositioning. The trigger parameter(s) is a part of parameter(s)pertaining to the area event triggers.

For example, the trigger parameter may include characteristics of thearea event and trigger condition information indicating a specifiedarea. The characteristic of the area event can be used to representwhether the SET is moved into or out of the specified area, orpositioned in the specified area. Also, the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSEmessage may include location identifiers (location ids) of an areaspecified for the area event triggered session. Preferably, the locationids may denote information indicating an actual location area on thenetwork such as cell id(s) belonging to the area for which the SUPLagent has requested positioning, MCC, MNC or LAC, or a scrambling codenumber. In particular, for a WCDMA, the location id denotes a primaryscrambling code number.

In addition, the SLP informs the SUPL agent of the acceptance of thepositioning request using a MLP TLRA message. (S326).

For receiving the location id(s) through the SUPL TRIGGER RESPONSEmessage, the SET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP only when atrigger condition is satisfied.

For example, whether the trigger condition is satisfied may be verifiedby comparing the location id of the current SET with the location idesreceived from the SLP. That is, the SET compares the cell id in whichthe SET is currently positioned with the plurality of cell ids received,to thus check whether there is a cell id identical with its cell id.

If the characteristics of the area event included in the triggerparameter indicate that the SET is moved into the specified area orpositioned in the specified area, the SET starts the periodicpositioning only when at least one of the location ides received fromthe SLP is identical with the location id of the SET. Conversely, if thecharacteristics of the area event indicate that the SET is moved out ofthe specified area, the SET starts the periodic positioning only whenany of the location ides received is not identical with the location idof the SET.

The comparison is performed to check whether the SET is moved near thearea requested by the SUPL agent by an approximate positioning of theSET.

If it is checked by the comparison of the location ids that the triggercondition is satisfied, the SET identifies that the SET itself has beenmoved near the requested area, and then sends a SUPL POS INIT message tothe SLP to start a positioning session (S327). The SUPL POS INIT messagemay include at least session-id and a location identifier (lid).

The SLP and the SET consecutively exchange messages for performing anactual positioning to calculate the position of the SET (S328).Preferably, the message exchanged between the SLP and the SET mayinclude a session id, protocols (e.g., RRLP, RRC or TIA-801) to be usedfor the positioning, and the like. The positioning (i.e., positioncalculation) for the SET may be performed by the SLP based uponpositioning measurements received from the SET (i.e., SET-assistedmode), or be performed by the SET based upon assistance obtained fromthe SLP (i.e., SET-based mode). In the embodiment, the positioning isperformed by the SET-assisted mode, and accordingly the SLP sends thecalculated position value (i.e., posresult) to the SET through the SUPLREPORT message (S329). If the positioning is performed by the SET-basedmode, the SUPL REPORT message is not required.

Hence, upon receiving the position value (i.e., posresult) of the SETfrom the SLP, the SET compares the calculated position value with aposition value of the specified area defined in the trigger parameter soas to check whether the trigger condition is satisfied, namely, the areaevent has occurred (S330).

According to the comparison, if the position value of the SET isidentical with the position value defined in the trigger parameter(i.e., if the area event occurs), the SET performs operations succeedinga step (S335). If the two values are not identical with each other, theSET sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP to re-inform the SLP ofthe start of the positioning session (S331). Afterwards, the SLP and theSET consecutively exchange messages for performing an actual positioningto calculate the position of the SET (S332), and sends the calculatedposition value (i.e., posresult) to the SET through the SUPL REPORTmessage (S333).

Upon receiving the position value (posresult) of the SET from the SLP,the SET compares the calculated position value with a position value ofthe specified area defined in the trigger parameter to check whether thearea event has occurred (S334). According to the comparison, if the areaevent has not occurred, the SET repeatedly performs the steps as same asthe steps (S21˜S23). If identical with each other, the SET sends theSUPL REPORT message to the SLP (S335). The SUPL REPORT message mayinclude at least session-id and the position value (i.e., posresult)occurring the area event.

Accordingly, the SLP sends the area-based positioning value to the SUPLagent through the MLP TLREP message (S336), and sends the SUPL ENDmessage to the SET to inform the SET of the end (termination) of thepositioning session (S337). The SET having received the SUPL END messagereleases an IP connection with the SLP and also releases all of theresources related to the positioning session.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating an area-based positioning procedure inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, whichillustrates a SET-trigged case and a SET-initiated case for aNon-Roaming Proxy mode.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, when a SUPL agent within the SET requests anarea event triggered service, the SET sets a data connection with apacket data network if any data connection is not set between the SETitself and a certain network (S340).

Upon setting the data connection, the SET sets a secure IP connectionwith a H-SLP using a default address provisioned from a home network.Then, the SET sends a SUPL TRIGGER START message to the SLP to start apositioning session (S341). The SUPL TRIGGER START message may includeat least session-id, trigger type indicator (e.g., area event), lid, SETcapabilities, and a trigger parameter (trigger_params).

The trigger parameter denotes an area event triggered parameter relatedto a positioning. The trigger parameter(s) is a part of parameter(s)pertaining to the area event triggers.

The trigger parameter may include several trigger condition information,for example, characteristics of the area event and a specified area. Thecharacteristics of the area event may include several conditioninformation which indicates whether the SET is moved into or out of thespecified area, or positioned in the specified area.

The SLP having received the SUPL TRIGGER START message determines whichcells belong to the specified area within the trigger parameter. The SLPthen stores location identifiers (location ids) of the correspondingarea and also sends the location ids to the SET through the SUPL TRIGGERRESPONSE message (S342). Preferably, the location id(s) may denoteinformation indicating an actual location area on the network (e.g.,cell id(s) belonging to the area for which the SUPL agent has requestedpositioning, a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), aLocation Area Code (LAC), etc.), or a scrambling code number.Particularly, for a WCDMA, the location id corresponds to the primaryscrambling code number.

The SET having received the location id through the SUPL TRIGGERRESPONSE message sends the SUPL POS INIT message when the event triggercondition is satisfied. That is, the SET compares the location id of thecurrent SET with the location ids received (S343). For example, the SETcompares the cell id in which the SET is currently positioned with theplurality of cell ids received, to thereby check whether there is a cellid that is identical with the cell id in which the SET is positioned.

If the characteristics of the area event included in the triggerparameter indicate that the SET is moved into the specified area orpositioned in the specified area, the SET starts the periodicpositioning only when at least one of the location ides received fromthe SLP is identical with the location id of the SET. Conversely, if thecharacteristics of the area event indicate that the SET is moved out ofthe specified area, the SET starts the periodic positioning only whenany of the location ides received is not identical with the location idof the SET. The comparison is performed to check whether the SET ismoved near the area requested by the SUPL agent by an approximatepositioning of the SET.

According to the comparison, if at least one of the location idsreceived is identical with the current location id of the SET, the SETrecognizes that the SET itself has approached the requested area, andthen sends the SUPL POS INIT message to the SLP to start the positioningsession (S344). The SUPL POS INIT message may include at leastsession-id and a location identifier (lid).

The SLP and the SET consecutively exchange messages for performing anactual positioning to calculate the position of the SET (S345). Here,the positioning (i.e., position calculation) for the SET may beperformed by the SLP based upon positioning measurements received fromthe SET (i.e., SET-assisted mode), or be performed by the SET based uponassistance obtained from the SLP (i.e., SET-based mode). In theembodiment of FIG. 18, the positioning is performed by the SET-basedmode. However, if the positioning is performed by the SET-assisted mode,the SLP sends the calculated position value to the SET through the SUPLREPORT message (S346).

When the position value of the SET is calculated, the SET compares thecalculated position value with a position value of the specified areadefined in the trigger parameter so as to check whether the triggercondition is satisfied, namely, the area event has occurred (S347).According to the comparison, if the trigger condition is not satisfied,the SET calculate a new position value by performing the steps S348 andS349. Here, if the positioning is performed by the SET-assisted mode,the SLP sends the calculated position value to the SET using the SUPLREPORT message (S350).

Upon calculating the new position value, the SET compares the newlycalculated position value with the position value of the specified areadefined in the trigger parameter to check whether the trigger conditionis satisfied (i.e., whether the area event has occurred) (S351). If thetrigger condition is satisfied, the SET reports the newly calculatedposition value to the inner agent and then sends the SUPL END message tothe SLP (S352).

As described above, the present invention proposes the method forperforming the area-based positioning in the SUPL-based positioningmethod, so as to allow implementation of various positioning methodsbased upon the SUPL.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, itshould also be understood that the above-described embodiments are notlimited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within itsspirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore allchanges and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of theclaims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intendedto be embraced by the appended claims.

1. An area-based positioning method for a mobile communications systemwherein said system is conformed to the existing Open Mobile AllianceSUPL standard, the method performed by a server and comprising: sendinga SUPL INIT message to a SET in order to initiate a SUPL procedure foran area event triggered session, based upon a positioning request forthe SET, the SUPL INIT message comprising a session-id, an intendedpositioning method, a proxy/non-proxy mode indicator, and a trigger typeindicator; sending a SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message to the SET inresponse to receiving a SUPL TRIGGERED START message from the SET inorder to start an area event triggered session with the SET, wherein theSUPL TRIGGERED START message comprising a session-id, a location-id, andSET capabilities, and the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message comprises atleast one of a session-id, a positioning method, trigger parameters, andlocation identifiers of an area specified for the area event triggeredsession; receiving a SUPL POS INIT message from the SET to start thearea event triggered session, when a comparison performed by the SET ofa current area-id and the location identifiers of the area specified forthe area event triggered session indicates that positioning of the SETis to be executed; exchanging position procedure messages with the SETduring the positioning session to calculate actual positioninginformation indicating longitudinal and latitudinal values of the SET;sending a SUPL REPORT message to the SET, the SUPL REPORT messageincluding the session-id and the calculated actual positioninginformation of the SET, in order to allow the SET to compare thecalculated actual positioning information with the trigger parameters;and receiving a SUPL REPORT message from the SET, the SUPL REPORTmessage including the session-id and the calculated actual positioninginformation of the SET, if the calculated actual positioning informationindicates that the trigger parameters are satisfied by the SET.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the positioning request for the SET isreceived from a SUPL Agent.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: informing the SUPL Agent that the positioning request forthe SET is accepted, after sending the SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE messageto the SET.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identifierscomprise at least one of cell id(s) belonging to thepositioning-requested area, Mobile Country Code (MCC), Mobile NetworkCode (MNC), Location Area Code (LAC), a scrambling code number, and aprimary scrambling code number.
 5. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: sending, to the SUPL Agent, a REPORT message that includesthe calculated position value.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: sending, to the SET, a SUPL END message to end the areaevent triggered session.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggerparameters are satisfied by the SET if the SET has moved into or out ofa specified area or positioned in the specified area.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the trigger parameters include information about aspecific area and condition information about whether the SET has movedinto or out of a specified area or positioned in the specified area. 9.An area-based positioning method for a mobile communications systemwherein said system is conformed to the existing Open Mobile AllianceSUPL standard, the method performed by a SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) andcomprising: receiving a SUPL INIT message from a server in order toinitiate a SUPL procedure for an area event triggered session, basedupon a positioning request for the SET, the SUPL INIT message comprisinga session-id, an intended positioning method, a proxy/non-proxy modeindicator, and a trigger type indicator; receiving a SUPL TRIGGEREDRESPONSE message from the server in response to sending a SUPL TRIGGEREDSTART message to the server in order to start an area event triggeredsession with the SET, wherein the SUPL TRIGGERED START messagecomprising a session-id, a location-id, and SET capabilities, and theSUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSE message comprises at least one of a session-id,a positioning method, trigger parameters, and location identifiers of anarea specified for the area event triggered session; sending a SUPL POSINIT message to the server to start the area event triggered session,when a comparison performed by the SET of a current area-id and thelocation identifiers of the area specified for the area event triggeredsession indicates that positioning of the SET is to be executed;exchanging, with the server, positioning procedure messages to calculateactual positioning information indicating longitudinal and latitudinalvalues of the SET; calculating the actual positioning information whenthe SET operates in SET-based mode; comparing the calculated actualpositioning information with the trigger parameters after receiving aSUPL REPORT message from the server, the SUPL REPORT message includingthe session-id and the calculated actual positioning information of theSET; and sending a SUPL REPORT message to the server, the SUPL REPORTmessage including the session-id and the calculated actual positioninginformation of the SET, if the calculated actual positioning informationindicates that the trigger parameters are satisfied by the SET.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the location identifiers comprise at leastone of cell id(s) belonging to the positioning-requested area, MobileCountry Code (MCC), Mobile Network Code (MNC), Location Area Code (LAC),a scrambling code number, and a primary scrambling code number.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising: receiving, from the server, aSUPL END message to end the area event triggered session.
 12. The methodof claim 9, wherein the trigger parameters are satisfied by the SET ifthe SET has moved into or out of a specified area or positioned in thespecified area.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the triggerparameters include information about a specific area and conditioninformation about whether the SET has moved into or out of a specifiedarea or positioned in the specified area.
 14. An area-based positioningmethod for a mobile communications system wherein said system isconformed to the existing Open Mobile Alliance SUPL standard, the methodperformed by a server and comprising: receiving a SUPL TRIGGERED STARTmessage from the SET in order to start an area event triggered sessionwith the SET, wherein the SUPL TRIGGERED START message comprises asession-id, a location-id, trigger type indicator, SET capabilities andtrigger parameters; sending, to the SET, a SUPL TRIGGERED RESPONSEmessage that includes at least one of a session-id, a positioning methodand location identifiers of an area specified for the triggerparameters; receiving a SUPL POS INIT message from the SET to start apositioning session when a current area-id and at least one of thelocation identifiers matches with each other; exchanging positionprocedure messages with the SET during the positioning session tocalculate actual positioning information indicating longitudinal andlatitudinal values of the SET; and receiving a SUPL END message from theSET to end the area event triggered session.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the trigger type indicator indicates an area event.
 16. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the trigger parameters include informationabout a specific area and condition information about whether the SEThas moved into or out of a specified area or positioned in the specifiedarea.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the location identifierscomprise at least one of cell id(s) belonging to thepositioning-requested area, Mobile Country Code (MCC), Mobile NetworkCode (MNC), Location Area Code (LAC), a scrambling code number, and aprimary scrambling code number.
 18. An area-based positioning method fora mobile communications system wherein said system is conformed to theexisting Open Mobile Alliance SUPL standard, the method performed by aSUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) and comprising: sending a SUPL TRIGGEREDSTART message to a server in order to start an area event triggeredsession with the SET, wherein the SUPL TRIGGERED START message comprisesa session-id, a location-id, trigger type indicator, SET capabilitiesand trigger parameters; receiving, from the server, a SUPL TRIGGEREDRESPONSE message that includes at least one of a session-id, apositioning method and location identifiers of an area specified for thetrigger parameters; sending a SUPL POS INIT message to the server tostart a positioning session when a current area-id and at least one ofthe location identifiers matches with each other; exchanging positionprocedure messages with the server during the positioning session tocalculate actual positioning information indicating longitudinal andlatitudinal values of the SET; calculating the actual positioninginformation when the SET operates in SET-based mode; and sending a SUPLEND message to the server to end the area event triggered session. 19.The method of claim 18, wherein the trigger type indicator indicates anarea event.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the trigger parametersinclude information about a specific area and condition informationabout whether the SET has moved into or out of a specified area orpositioned in the specified area.
 21. The method of claim 18, whereinthe location identifiers comprise at least one of cell id(s) belongingto the positioning-requested area, Mobile Country Code (MCC), MobileNetwork Code (MNC), Location Area Code (LAC), a scrambling code number,and a primary scrambling code number.
 22. The method of claim 18,further comprising: forwarding the calculated actual positioninginformation to an internal agent within the SET.